Fast

(Amy;14711)
Dear All,I need your help to find out biblical references on how to fast i.e. any specific time of the day that one can start the fast / how long and when to open, is it allowed to drink during fast etc.? All in all how do we fast?Much appreciated and bless you all !-amy
(This is a copy of a response that was given previously to a question about fasting(with some editing)...hope this helps!)There is ONLY ONE way to fast is by not Eating Nor Drinking whatsoever.The length of time can vary, however. Jesus fasted 40 days and nights. Moses did not Eat Nor Drink when he was up in/on the Mount getting the "commandments:" from God. To win battles in the OT, some people fasted for half-a-day ant etc.Remember the Queen Esther???She said this:Esther 4:16 - Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. *****SO, The truth is that there are many different kinds of "inventions" that mankind (flesh) have "come up with", with respect to fasting, that ARE NOT "biblically-based!" All that this is doing is "giving occasion" to the flesh (letting the Flesh RULE/take control), which is the exact "opposite" of one of the most important "principles" of Living for God....which is the principle of "crucifying the flesh!!!!" And BOY, that flesh just loooooovvvvvvees to EAT/DRINK (BE FED):naughty: !Example: What people commonly refer to as the "DANIEL fast" is NOT REALLY a fast at all! It was a sort of "challenge", if you will, as well as DANIEL and The HEBREW boys "standing up for Holiness" (because they DID NOT want the KING's Meat/food (food which most likely was forbidden under Jewish customs):naughty: !So, in others Words....ALL these other "fasts" that people have invented are just "prime examples" of Satan's attempts at using mankind to manipulate/change the the "INCORRUPTIBLE" Word of God! ******There's ONLY One Kind, and that's the RIGHT KIND (No Food or DRink)!:bible: Instructions on How to Fast.Matthew 6:16-18 (KJV) says this:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. :bible: Jonah 3:5-17 says:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: With Love Arena

Strongs defines it asGreek word (G3522) Nesteuo1) to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several daysThere is no proper or unproper way to fast. Fasting is a personal choice made by self to honor God its is the prayer that is important. Not the fast.We are saved by Grace clothed with our works we are to repent of our sins and pray with sincerity of heart and love. fasting is optional and ones choice.

From what I understand. You fast to get an answer from God, or to prepare something. It's to get you closer to God. And you can only drink water. And nothing else.

(Wakka;14737)
From what I understand. You fast to get an answer from God, or to prepare something. It's to get you closer to God. And you can only drink water. And nothing else.
In the Bible, when people fasted it SPECIFICALLY said, that they DID NOT EAT OR DRINK. :bible: Can you give me a biblical reference that supports the "you can drink water only" theory? I know you are right about the "getting an answer from God" part!With Love,Arena

(kriss;14735)
There is no proper or unproper way to fast. Fasting is a personal choice made by self to honor God its is the prayer that is important. Not the fast.We are saved by Grace clothed with our works we are to repent of our sins and pray with sincerity of heart and love. fasting is optional and ones choice.
The Devil is a Liar and there is NO Truth in Him! ONLY Satan will say something that is directly OPPOSITE of what God's Word CLEARLY says/supports! Sorry, I NEED SCRIPTURE!!!!! Any scripture that back up "your" claim???With Love,Arena

I'm pretty sure you can drink water. And arenamistica. Please don't call sister Kriss "The Devil". Instead, if she is wrong, correct her by informing her of the truth. And no body is required to Fast. And it certainly isn't a public thing to do with your friends. It has to be between you and God only! I recommend you fast to grow even more spiritually closer to God.

Amy there are biblical reference for fasting...I'll give you that in a bit. (Link below)Wakka, from what I read so far...It is benefitial and yes they did it because they seek God.Kriss, Arena, read this...I. Is there a place for fasting in New Testament times?A. Fasting was not required of the disciples of Jesus.Matthew 9:14 (Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33) "Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples fast not?"B. But Jesus spoke of a day when there would be a place for fasting.Matthew 6:16-18 - Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.Matthew 9:15 - Matthew 9:14-15 (Luke 5:34-35) "And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."There's more in the link at the bottom----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[url="http://www.dianedew.com/fasting.htm]Link for fasting[/url]Lovest thou in Christ Jesus (Yahshua) our Lord and Saviour.Edit 1: Wakka, I think Arena meant The Devil (Satan/Lucifer) is a liar, there is no truth in him. (John 8:44) So in short, he or she is saying that the words that came from Kriss's mouth is straight from the Devil himself.

Sorry, I NEED SCRIPTURE!!!!! Any scripture that back up "your" claim???
From this I came to the conclusion that she's challenging Kriss to a scripture battle.

(Wakka;14753)
(Arena)
Sorry, I NEED SCRIPTURE!!!!! Any scripture that back up "your" claim???
From this I came to the conclusion that she's challenging Kriss to a scripture battleYou mean a debate Wakka...if so...Romans 1:29 - Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,Lovest thou in Christ Jesus (Yahshua) our Lord and Saviour.

Scripture battle sound more pleasing. Even if it is a debate. But I never knew debates where unrighteous. Even Presidential debates?

(arenamistica;14746)
[/COLOR]The Devil is a Liar and there is NO Truth in Him! ONLY Satan will say something that is directly OPPOSITE of what God's Word CLEARLY says/supports! Sorry, I NEED SCRIPTURE!!!!! Any scripture that back up "your" claim???With Love,Arena
I do not appreciate your attitude sense it is you who are speaking what is not in scripture I gave you hebrew defenation of the word fast and claim Christ died for all our sin the only thing we must do is follow the law and ask and repent You are claiming by no scripture that you must fast to futher know God.It is you who are mistaken it is you are have no scripture but an opinion. It is prayer that God answers not fasting. Unless one choose to do so. [COLOR="Orange]NO WHERE DOES IT SAY YOU MUST FAST OR YOUR PRAYERS WONT BE ANSWERED NO WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT ONE WHO FASTS KNOWS GOD BETTER THAN ONE WHO DOSENT. BECAUSE YOU TWIST SCRIPTURE TO YOUR OPINION YOU SAY ONLY SATAN WOULD SAY SOMETHING CONTRARY TO GOD THEN BY YOUR OWN EXPLANATION FROM WHOM ARE YOU SPEAKINGScripture saying that aspostles fasted SOMETIMES when they prayed and saying its God word we must fast is a lie scripture also says they wore sandles but that doesnt mean if we dont wear sandles we are not following Gods Word.You are putting your words in Gods mouth

(Amy;14774)
Thank you so much Arena, Wakka, Jag and Kriss for your opinions and references :grouphug: We may have different perspectives of how we read and understand but please don't be harsh on each other because that is one thing I am sure, that dose not please God.We are ALL God's children not satan :naughty: Bless You
Sure we may have perspectives to reading scriptures of how we read and understand. Being harsh on someone may not be nice, but Lord Jesus was being harsh in his (flesh) time when they was moneychangers in the temple...some of the things He said was being harsh...so did the disciples...as Lord Jesus hates evil and we should too.Yes we are all indeed God's childrens...so was Satan, because he was created by God. But that doesn't change the fact that even today mankind (even Satan) can still twist scriptures...and we must be aware of it and wake up. We must watch out for everyone and take care of our brothers and sisters in Christ with SWORDS.Lovest thou in Christ Jesus (Yahshua) our Lord and Saviour.P.S. I'll repeat this truth, If one thinks he knows everything, pride comes in and God hates pride.

No matter your personal opinion on this the facts are there are 17 verses in the bible using the word Fasting 8 of these in the new testament another 11 verses using the word Fast in the new testament. NOT ONE NOT EVEN ONE SAYS YOU MUST FAST TO BETTER KNOW GOD NOT ONE SAYS FASTING IS REQUIRED NOT ONE SAYS GOD WILL LOOK MORE FAVORABLY ON YOUR PRAYERS SHOULD YOU FAST THESE ARE THE FACTS.Now it is fact that the apostles often fasted and prayed but so did all the Sadducees and the Pharisees that didnt except Christ. Fasting is not the way to God. If you choose to fast in reverence of the Lord we are told to do it so as to make a show of it for others but rather privately for the Lord. IT IS FAITH AND PRAYER AND THE LAW AND REPENTANCE THAT GOD REQUIRES NOT FASTING AND IF ANYONE CAN SHOW ME ONE SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS FASTING IS REQUIRED TO BETTER KNOW THE LORD OR TO HAVE YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED YOU MUST FAST. PLEASE TO SO. IF NOT THEN YOUR OPINION IS JUST THAT YOUR OPINION BUT DO NOT CLAIM IT AS GODS WORD

Don't be sad Amy. It's just the fact, that Satan wants our soul with him. Satan hates us literally.We need Lord Jesus big time. Our soul is depending on the side we choose...and we must stand tall against the Devil, and stand by God when we need Him.:grouphug: to Amy.Lovest thou so much in Christ Jesus (Yahshua) our Lord and Saviour.P.S. Just better be off warning people than not.

(Amy;14786)
(thesuperjag;14783)
Don't be sad Amy. It's just the fact, that Satan wants our soul with him. Satan hates us literally.We need Lord Jesus big time. Our soul is depending on the side we choose...and we must stand tall against the Devil, and stand by God when we need Him.:grouphug: to Amy.Lovest thou so much in Christ Jesus (Yahshua) our Lord and Saviour.P.S. Just better be off warning people than not.
Dear Jag,When I was a little girl my mother always told me that if your brother or sister is wrong, pray for them. I think instead of fighting each other we should pray for each other. We should win our brothers and sisters with love otherwise satan wins.I can fight satan anytime but when it uses my brother and sister against me, I can only win them back with love.Thank you for your concern, I feel much better now That's like the best way to win a brother and/or sister back. I agree with you 100%. However to fight back against evil (not any specific person...but evil actions) is the way to defend a brother and sister in Christ in the Faith.When pretty much my whole life, nobody in my family told me anything about God and Jesus. I was told of them for the first time in January 2006 by a girl I met on the internet (not outside of computer)Lovest thou in Christ Jesus (Yahshua) our Lord and Saviour.I'm glad you are feeling much better now Amy.